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From Spain: Arsenal ready to pay £35m to sign French star after opening transfer talks

By on April 19, 2018

According to reports in Spain via TeamTalk, Arsenal have opened talks with Real Madrid over a deal to sign Karim Benzema but made it clear we won’t pay above £35m for the striker.

Benzema has been constantly linked with a move to the Emirates ever since he was at Lyon with speculation circulating throughout every window over the past decade.

Arsene Wenger has publicly confirmed his admiration for the striker several times and we’ve reportedly come close to signing Benzema on several occasions but never managed to get a deal over the line.

The rumour mill is already in full swing ahead of the summer as TeamTalk are citing a report from Diario Gol that claims Arsenal have opened talks with Madrid about a potential deal to sign the striker.

The Spanish publication says Madrid president Florentino Perez is demanding £70m but Arsenal have made it clear we won’t pay over £35m for the 30-year-old Frenchman.

Benzema is expected to be sold this summer after enduring a difficult campaign that’s seen him score just 9 goals in all competitions and Zinedine Zidane wants fresh blood up front.

However, the report says Arsenal will refuse to meet Madrid’s valuation despite Sergio Ramos pleading with Perez to accept a lower figure as he thinks no top club will pay big money for Benzema anymore.

There is no doubt the French international was a world class striker in his day and at one point I’d have loved to have seen him playing for Arsenal but his best days are behind him and that ship has sailed.

Plus, we hear these dubious reports coming out of Spain all the time so I wouldn’t be getting too excited about the prospect of Benzema coming to Arsenal. No doubt Madrid are just using our name to try and drum up interest.

And a striker is probably the last thing Arsenal need right now as we’ve spent over £100m on Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in recent windows so where exactly would Benzema fit in?!